Maloney’s brother won’t accept gender change, wants Frank back

Phil Jay 24/08/2014

Eugene Maloney, brother of former promoter Kellie, has opened up on the gender swap his now sister is undertaking after deciding to become a woman.

Kellie lived as Frank Maloney for 61 years until a recent shock announcement in the tabloids of her intent to change sexes and Eugene has spoken to the same newspaper that broke the story to tell his side.

The former boxer, who had nine professional bouts in the 1980’s, had told of his pain at losing the brother he shared his life with and still holds out hope that Kellie will revert back to Frank at some point in the future.

“I was shocked, I began shaking,” Eugene told The Sunday Mirror in an exclusive interview. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.

“I went down to buy my Sunday newspaper and there it was, right in front of me – I saw my brother is now living as a woman.

“To say I was surprised would be an understatement. I thought it was a joke – I thought Jeremy Beadle was going to jump out in front of me, laughing.

“I didn’t know what was going on. I got indoors still shaking and I saw the pictures. I cut them up. I felt too sad to look at them.”

When living as Frank, Kellie was incredibly close to Eugene as both shared a passion for the sport they love, although recent events have put a strain on the relationship – which is now well past breaking point.

“We did everything together,” explained Eugene. “Imagine what it’s like when you’ve known someone all your life.

“I spent years sharing hotel rooms with him, we would get dressed in front of each other.

“There was no inkling at all that he ever seemed like he didn’t want to be a man. It’s unbelievable. We shared everything.

“We knew everything about one another so when he says he always knew he wasn’t happy being a man, I can’t believe it.

“The Frank I knew loved women, he really did. He has been married twice, he had girlfriends from when he was a young teenager.

“We would go out to nightclubs and Frank would be all over women – there was never any sign that he wanted to be one though.

“I’m baffled, I still think I’m daydreaming. I keep thinking that I might wake up from this dreadful dream.

“My mum will always love her three sons, she will. But she’s hurting. I don’t want to go into exactly what her thoughts are but she is in shock.

“It wasn’t something she ever thought would happen, obviously. Why would she think that her 61-year-old son would all of a sudden want to be a woman?

“It has brought shame on our Catholic family. How could he put us through it?

“If he wanted to do this, then why not do it in private? Why not tell your family in private but not the world? Why go on the TV and flaunt it?

“I’m not a good Catholic boy but I believe in God. Frank said, ‘God made a mistake and I rectified it’ – it’s nonsense talk.

“I hope this isn’t Kellie for ever. I hope and expect that we will get Frank back.

“I refuse to believe that he will ever actually become a woman,” he added.

Kellie is currently appearing on Channel 5 in a stint on Celebrity Big Brother and has already admitted on national TV that she is struggling with her new identity.

Read the full interview in The Sunday Mirror and watch the video with Eugene here